Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Northview found a way to win tonight as the Lady Chiefs beat Freeport, Fla. 6-2 in the FHSAA Class 1A Regional Semifinal in Bratt.

The Lady Chiefs went out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, and the game stayed that way until the fifth. FHS tacked on two runs in the top-half of the frame, and the Lady Chiefs answered with three of their own.

NHS softball coach Amy Holland said it was a good win, and the girls scratched out a win.

“We played better than what we played tonight,” Holland said. “Do I think our girls will rise up? I do. We have a young team. We’ve got two seniors on the field, four ninth graders and the rest 10th graders. I think we’ll rise up. They really want it. They’re hungry. I think Tuesday night you’ll see a different team.”

The Tuesday night Holland referred to is the regional final on May 14 at home against Holmes County. HCHS beat Jay 4-1 tonight.

Northview’s first inning featured Riley Brooks, Kylee Langham and Mary Clayton Dawson scoring one run each.

Jamison Gilman struck out four and allowed no earned runs on three hits in 5.0 innings to earn the win on the mound. She walked two batters. Mikayla McAnally came in in relief, striking out two and allowing one hit.

Brooks went 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a run and McAnally went 2-for-3 to lead the Lady Chiefs. Makayla Golson went 1-for-3 with an RBI and two runs; Langham went 1-for-2; and Dawson went 1-for-2.

Four Freeport batters tallied one hit each for the Lady Bulldogs.

When asked what the issue was on the field tonight regarding how the girls played, Holland said she believes it was not playing for a whole week.

“Last week, we played Thursday night, and then we had a lull on the weekend,” she said. “We’ve had great practices all week. We did find a way to win. We’ve got a lot of future ahead of us, but we’ve got a lot of talent here already.”

When asked what she thought went right, Holland said the defense looked better.

“Our defense had our pitchers’ back,” Holland said. “I think that’s one of the things that went right for us. And we had a few good hits that executed. Our girls who have been hitting didn’t get through tonight, but that’s OK because they had their backs.”

First pitch next Tuesday is slated for 7 p.m.